Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-21

in the minds of some, and half forgot
ten by others before my arrival.
| Parties whom / met, who had re-
Gently passed through Alma, coming
in this direction from points beyond
Alma, had not even heard of any
rumors about Indians, except that of
q hundred in Mexico.
| visited Cooney, conversed with
Pinney, who corroboi ated what l had
previously learned. That he was
alone at the time, the others having
gone on, and that Hanna returned
with him the same day to
! where he believed he saw the In
dams, He still adhered to the be-
lief, but, readily admitted, that he
may have been mistaken, and said
that, 81 knew how it was when man
is alone that way" l suppose ne
meant, more apt to get scared.
l learned nothing further bearing
| upon the matter, except that it was
investigated by other parties next day
who came to the same conclusion,
viz that Pinney either saw nothing,
or the three Mexicans who passed
Siggins' ranch. The driver of the
stage leaving next morning (Monday),
for Silver City, was cautioned not to
repeat the rumor, until something
could be learned concerning its truth.
1t appears that the more sober
minded portion of the community
about Alma distrusted Pinneys' story
from the first.
/ think it probable, that the party
who gave the report to the press, left
Alma before even Pinneys' report was
half understood, as it was incorrectly
given in the press.
Very respectfully,
Your obedent servant
TSigned.1 T. G.. UPPER,
Captain 9th Cavalry.
The following, published in the
Clifton Clarion, of July 27, 1887, is the
article to which the foregoing report
alludes:
Hostile Indians-Fire upon James
Pinney, and Pursue Three Others
News received just as we go to press
would indicate that report that the
hostiles are all confined upon the res
ervation are false, and that ON the
contrary band, bent upon murder
and depreciation, is still out.
w. II. Black, who is well known
here and lives on the Little Blue, fif-
teen miles west of Alma, n. NJ, brings
news that on last Sunday a party OF
four, consisting of Henry Pinney, Ike
Stevens, Il man named Medear and
another known as Tennessee, started
from Alma to visit the new silver
strike. While on the way Pinney be-
came sick and was compelled to fall a
considerable distance behind his COM
panions. While thus riding alone he
saw a band of five Indians, who
on catching sight of him, opened
fire. Six shots were discharged by
the Indians and five by Pinney, when
he turned and fed back to Alma, ar
irving there during the night. The
next morning, in company with two
others, Pinney started out to see what
had become Of Stevens and his former
companions. Striking the trail they
followed it a certain distance, when
they found where the party of three
had turned and run at full speed in a
direction toward Alma. This trail was
followed by Pinney and companions
till they became frightened and con-
vinced of danger, when they camped
and returned to Alma next day, only
to find that Stevens and party had not
returned to that place. A larger posse
was at once organized, and when Mr..
Black left was about to start out in
search of the missing men.
While it does not necessarily follow
that Stevens, Medear and Tennessee
have been killed, the above story, on
very good authority, does prove that
there are hostile Indians off the reser-
walton, all reports to the contrary not
withstanding, and gives color to ru-
mors of the some character which have
been current for some time past.